Regenerative medicine is a field that aims to influence and improvise the processes of tissue repair and restoration and to assist the body to heal and recover. In the field of hard tissue regeneration, bio-inert materials are being predominantly used, and there is a necessity to use bioactive materials that can help in better tissue–implant interactions and facilitate the healing and regeneration process. One such bioactive material that is being focused upon and studied extensively in the past few decades is bioactive glass (BG). The original bioactive glass (45S5) is composed of silicon dioxide, sodium dioxide, calcium oxide, and phosphorus pentoxide and is mainly referred to by its commercial name Bioglass. BG is mainly used for bone tissue regeneration due to its osteoconductivity and osteostimulation properties. The bioactivity of BG, however, is highly dependent on the compositional ratio of certain glass-forming system content. The manipulation of content ratio and the element compositional flexibility of BG-forming network developed other types of bioactive glasses with controllable chemical durability and chemical affinity with bone and bioactivity. This review article mainly discusses the basic information about silica-based bioactive glasses, including their composition, processing, and properties, as well as their medical applications such as in bone regeneration, as bone grafts, and as dental implant coatings.

White-spot-lesions (WSL) are a common complication associated with orthodontic treatment. In the current study, the remineralization efficacy of a BiominF^® paste was compared to the efficacy of a fluoride gel. Methods: Orthodontic brackets were bonded to 60 human premolars buccal surfaces, which were covered with varnish, except a small treatment area (3 mm²). All specimens were challenged by a demineralization solution for 4 days. Specimens were assigned into 4 groups: BiominF^® paste, Fluoride (4-min application), fluoride (twenty four hours application), and the control (n = 15). After cross-sectioning, enamel slabs having a thickness of approximately 100–120 μm were obtained. A TMR (Transverse Micro Radiography) technique was used to observe the sub-surface enamel lesions’ depth and mineral density, and their response to the remineralization protocols. One way ANOVA was used to analyze the results (α = 0.05). The top and the cross-sectional surfaces were observed using SEM/EDS. Results: Specimens treated with BiominF^® paste showed significant decrease in delta z values, however lesion depth showed no significant difference when compared to the other three groups (p < 0.05). SEM/EDS observation showed the formation of crystal like structures on top of enamel demineralized surfaces, when treated with BiominF^® paste. In conclusion BiominF^® paste can be considered an effective remineralizing agent for white spot Lesions.

Bioglass 45S5 is a bioactive glass that can create a layer of calcium-phosphate crystals on mineralized hard tissues. In this study, 45S5 bioglass was mixed with phosphoric acid and irradiated with CO₂ laser and examined as a possible aid in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity. The dentinal surface modified by the aforementioned technique was chemically and micro-morphologically examined with a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscope (EDS), and the crystalline structures of the examined dentinal surfaces were examined by x-ray diffraction (XRD). Moreover, the mechanical properties of the newly formed layer were examined by nanoindentation. The results showed that 45S5 bioglass could occlude the dentinal tubule orifices with calcium-phosphate crystals. The application of CO₂ laser potentially improved the mechanical organization of these crystals.